Russia’s Supreme Court Labels Aeroflot Hack Groups as Extremist Organizations

Russia’s Supreme Court has designated two hacker groups as extremist organizations, acting on a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office. The groups are “Cyber Partisans BY” and “Silent Crow.” According to the court, “Cyber Partisans BY” is part of the Belarusian informal organization “Supraciw” (Resistance), which aims to forcibly change the constitutional order of Belarus. “Silent Crow” is described as a pro-Ukrainian association of anonymous, politically motivated hacker-activists.

The court stated that the two groups work closely together to destabilize the political and social situation, with the goal of changing the governments of Russia and Belarus by unconstitutional means. These groups are known for several high-profile cyberattacks, including the 2025 breaches of Rosreestr (Russia’s Federal Registration Service) and the state telecommunications company Rostelecom. A particularly notable attack was the 2025 hack of Russian state airline Aeroflot, which knocked out its information systems and caused a collapse at Sheremetyevo Airport.

The decision came after the Prosecutor General’s Office argued that the groups’ activities threaten the security and stability of Russia and Belarus. The designation allows Russian authorities to take further legal actions against the groups and their members. This move is part of broader efforts to crack down on cybercrime and politically motivated hacking, which have increased in recent years.